Machine for printing floor and wall coverings



'April 16, 1935. T. PEsc1 1,997,652

MACHINE FOR PRINTING FLOOR AND WALL COVERINGS Filed Feb. 26, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 [n 0mm. 7720mm- Pescz April 16, 1935. T, PESCI 199x652 MACHINE FOR PRINTING FLOOR AND WALL COVERINGS Inward/ 07 E I T/wmaafescz' A By Qfiwwm April 16, 1935.

T. PESCI MACHINE FOR PRINTING FLOOR AND WALL COVERINGS Filed Feb. 26, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Apr. 16, 1935 armrorrics MACHINE FOR PRINTING FLOOR AND WALL COVERINGS Thomas Pesci, Raritan, N. J. Application February 26, 1934., Serial No. 712,933

'20 Claims. (Cl. 101-199) My invention relates to improvements in a machine for printing floor and wall coverings, such as linoleum, oil cloth, and goods of like charactor, and particularly relates tov a flat top machine, having vertically reciprocating heads carrying printing blocks, and horizontally reciprocating rolls for applying the'printing liquid to the blocks. i V The object of my invention is to print upon the 10. goods a reproduction of marble, the grain of wood, and various shading eifects and designs, by applying'the same to the printing surface of a printing block of a flat top machine.

A further object is to apply the desired reproduotion to the surface of a roll, by engraving, or by any well known photographic process, and transferring an impression to the printing block by passing the roll over the surface of the latter, and then impressing the block upon the goods.

A further object is to provide a novel printing block having a smooth resilient printing surface for receiving said reproducton from the roll andfor transferring it to the goods.

A further object is to substitute an engraved ,roll for one of the usual type of rolls now used for applying the printingliquid to the printing blocks of a flat top machine.

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of the doctors, or scrapers, for applying the printing liquid to the engraved roll.

A further object is to provide mechanism'for automatically shifting the doctors relatively to the direction of rotation of the roll.

A further object is to provide cams located upon the reciprocating heads for engaging and operating the shifting mechanism for the doctors.

These together with various other novel features of construction and operation of the parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed, constitute my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of a portion of a fiat top printing machine, embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view on line 3--3 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional View similar to Fig.

1, showing the parts in a different position, and,

drawn on a larger scale. 7

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the carriage, shown in Fig. 4. i

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on 66 Fig. 5.

In the drawings in which like reference charline actors refer to like parts, It]. represents the frame of a flat top printing machine, such as now in general use. The patent to Eisenhardt No. 476,135, May '31, .1392, illustrates the type of 'machine to which my invention may be applied.

A table 5 2 is supported between the side members of the frame Hi, and the table supports the goods 93 to be printed. Feed bands M are mounted in guides l5, supported upon the frame, for advancing the goods intermittently, as shown in Fig. 3.

A series of reciprocating heads l8, l9 and 2!! are arranged throughout the length of the machine. The heads I 8 and 20 are provided with printing blocks 2|, having printing surfaces for printing various colors and designs upon the goods, in the usual manner.

The head l9 has a block 22 whichis provided with a novel printing surface, comprising a pad 23, formed of resilient material and forming'a smooth printing surface,'more fully hereinafter described.

The heads I8, I 5 and 20 are secured upon cross beams 24, 25 and 26, which are. supported upon end members 28, slidably mounted. in guides 29, located on opposite sides of the frame. The end members 28 have rollers 30, which are engaged by cams 3!, for reciprocating the heads.

An engraved roll 32 is provided for applying the engraved reproduction to the printing surface of the pad 23. A roll 33 of the usual type, is provided for. applying printing liquid to each of the blocks 2|. The'rolls 32 and 33 are mounted upon troughs35 and 35 and dip into the printing liquid contained in the troughs, and apply the liquid to the printing surfaces.

The troughs 35 and 35 are provided at their opposite ends with wheels 31, which are mounted on tracks 38, extending lengthwise of the frame it. cured gear wheels 40, which mesh with idler gear wheels M, which latter engage racks 42, extending parallel with the tracks 38. The troughs 35 and 36 are secured on carriages 44 and 45, which are coupled together by links. 46. The carriages are reciprocated relatively to the heads, from The rolls have shafts 39 on whichare se- A the positionrshown' in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4, by any suitable mechanism, such as the arms 41, pivoted to the frame l0, and actuated by cranks 48 and connecting'rods 49, in a manner well known in the art.

The operating mechanism is so timed that the heads will be at rest, in the elevated position relatively to the goods, as shown in Fig. 1, when the carriages are moved in "one direction for rolling the surface of the rolls in contact with the printing surfaces of the heads.

After the heads have been moved into printing engagement with the goods, as shown in Fig. 4, and again are in the elevated position, the carriages are moved in the opposite direction. During the reciprocating movements of the carriages, the gear wheels 40 and ll rotate the rolls in the proper direction so that the surface of the rolls will always be in rolling contact withthe printing surfaces of the blocks.

The roll 32 has its surface engraved with reproductions of marble, wood graining, or shading, and the impression is transferred from the'roll 32 to the printing surface of the pad 23 as the roll 32 is moved over said printing surface.

The pad 23 is formed with raised printing surfaces arranged to form a design corresponding to the design formed upon the goods by the other printing blocks 2|, so that the markings on the pad 23 will properly register with the design as formed on the goods.

The pad 23 is formed of rubber, gelatine, or any other resilient material impervious to oil and gasoline, and which will present a smooth printing surface. Synthetic rubber is a suitable material for the construction of the pad. The pad is molded into figures, or blocks to correspond to the design to be printed upon the goods. The pad so molded is then cemented upon the block 22.

The transferring of markings by means of an engraved roll to the pad 23 requires the employment of doctors 52 and 53 which are movably mounted relatively to the roll 32, and means for alternately shifting the doctors into and out of contact with the roll 32, so that the latter may rotate in different directions.

Fig. 1 shows the doctor 53 in contact with the roll 32, which will rotate anti-clockwise as it is moved to the right relatively to the pad 23.

Fig. 4 shows the doctors shifted to the opposite position, with the doctor 52 in contact with the roll 32, which latter will rotate clockwise, as it is moved to the left relatively to the pad 23. The engraved surface of the roll 32 would be damaged if the roll rotated in a direction in which the surface of the roll would travel toward the edge of the blade of the doctor, therefore it isessential that the doctors be positioned to allow the engraved surface of the roll to pass freely under doctor, as above described.

Heretofore the doctors were mounted in spaced relation to the rolls for removing the excess liquid. The rolls 33 are only provided for applying the liquid to the printing blocks 2|, and they can be rotated in either direction as the doctors are mounted in spaced relation to the rolls.

The use of an engraved roll 32 necessitates the doctors being set with their blades in contact with the roll in order that they may remove the liquid from the surface of the roll. Therefore the edges of the doctors must be alternately moved into and out of contact with the roll, according to the direction of rotation of the latter.

The doctors 52 and 53 are located upon opposite sides of the roll 32, and are pivotally mounted upon shafts 55, secured in bearings 56, attached to the inner surfaces of the walls of the trough 35. Lugs 51 are secured to the doctors, and said lugs are bifurcated and embrace the shafts 55, so that the doctors may be readily detached and removed from the trough.

Each doctor consists of a blade 60, secured between plates, or doctor holders, GI and 62, by bolts 63. The lower holder 62 is provided with the above mentioned lugs 51. The upper holder BI is provided with lugs 64, to receive connecting rods 65 for tilting the doctors about the shafts 55.

End brackets 68 are secured to the opposite ends of the trough 35 by bolts 69. Shift bars 10 are slidably mounted upon bearings H and 12 formed upon the brackets 68. Pivot plates, or levers, 14 are loosely pivoted on shafts 15, secured upon the brackets 68. The levers 14 each have an upper arm 16 which is bifurcated and embraces a pin 11, secured to the central portion of the shift bar 10. The lower arm 18 of the lever H has apertures formed therein to receive the connecting rods 65. When the shift bar 10 is moved, the lever 14 and the rods 65 will shift the doctors alternately into and out of contact with the roll 32.

The shift bars 10 are moved in the bearings H and 12, to shift the doctors, by means of cams 80 and 8! located upon the vertically reciprocating frames 24 and 26 carrying the heads I8 and 20, which latter are located upon the opposite sides of the head l9 carrying the pad 23. When the engraved roll 32 has moved over the surface of the pad 23 the carriages will come to rest with the trough 35 positioned between the heads l8 and I9, and then the heads all move into printing contact with the goods 13. The movement of the heads toward the goods causes the cam 80 to engage the shift bars 10 and move them into the position shown in Fig. l, with the doctor 52 out of contact with the roll and the doctor 53 positioned in contact with the roll, so that when the carriages move to the right and the roll is rotated anti-clockwise, the surface of the roll will pass under the blade of the doctor 53 without injuring the engraved surface of the roll.

When the carriages come to rest with the trough 35 positioned on the opposite side of the head 19, as shown in Fig. 4, the heads will be again moved into contact with the goods and the cam 8|, carried by the head 20, will have engaged and moved the shift bar 10 and the doctors into the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the doctor 52 is in engagement with the roll and the doctor 53 is out of engagement with the roll, so that the latter can rotate in a clockwise direction, when the carriages move to the left for passing the roll under the pad 23.

The shift bars 10 are each provided at their opposite ends with adjusting devices, in the form of screws 82 and lock nuts 83, by means of which the shift bar can be adjusted so that the cams 80 and 8| will move the shift bar to its proper positions for shifting the doctors relatively to the roll 32.

Various changes may be made in the construction and operation of the parts without departing from my invention.

I claim:-

1. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head having a transfer printing surface, a roll having a design formed thereon, means mounting said roll for movement in opposite directions relatively to the head, a doctor movably mounted relatively to said roll, and shifting mechanism arranged for shifting the doctor into and out of operative position with the roll.

2. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head having a flat transfer printing surface, a roll having a design formed thereon, mechanism arranged for reciprocating the roll in contact with the head, a doctor arranged opposite'directionfl w for engagement with thesurface of the rolL-and automatically 'controlled shifting mechanism operatively associated with the doctor for shifting the' latt'er relatively to the 'r'ollr 7 3. A printing machinehaving in combination, a reciprocating printing" head having a transfer printing-surface, a roll having'an engraved surface, mechanism arranged'for rotating the roll with the engraved surface thereof in contact with the printing surface of the head, a" doctor positioned adjacent to said roll-, and shifting mechanism arranged for -shifting the: doctorinto engagement with the surface of the-roll when the roll is rotated in one di'rectionand for shifting-the doctor out of engagementwith the surface of the roll when 'the latter is {rotated the 4. A printing machine having in" combination, a reciprocating head having a .flat tra-nsfer printing surface, a roll having an engraved surface,

mechanism for rotating the roll in opposite direc-& tions over the printingsurfaceIofrthe head, doc-1 torsulocated .at oppositesides of said roll, and. shifting mechanism operatively associated with the doctors and arranged for alternately engaging and disengaging the. doctorswiththe.roll.

5. A printing machinehaving'inrcombination, a reciprocating-head, a pad upon said head, said pad formed of resilient material and forming a fiat transfer printing surface, a roll having markings thereon, a trough, means mounting the roll upon the trough; means for moving. the roll in contact with said printing surface for transferring said markings to the pad, a doctor movably mounted upon the trough and in operative relation with the surface of the roll, and shifting mechanism mounted upon the trough and arranged for moving the doctor into and out of engagement with the surface of the roll when the latter is moved in different directions.

6. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head, a pad of resilient material upon the head and forming a fiat printing surface, a roll having engraved markings upon its surface, doctors movably mounted in operative relation with the roll, and shifting mechanism arranged for alternately engaging the doctors with the surface of the roll.

7. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head, forming a transfer printing surface, a pad of resilient material upon said head, a roll having engraved markings thereon, mechanism arranged for reciprocating the roll in contact with said pad, doctors located on opposite sides of the roll, shifting mechanism operatively associated with the doctors and arranged for alternately engaging and disengaging the doctors with the surface of the roll, and means operatively associated with said shifting mechanism and arranged for actuating the latter to shift the doctors.

8. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head having a flat'printing surface, a roll having engraved markings thereon, mechanism for reciprocating the roll in contact with said printing surface, doctors located on opposite sides of the roll, shifting mechanism arranged for engaging and disengaging the doctors with the surface of the roll, and engaging means located at opposite sides of the head and operatively associated with said shifting mechanism and arranged for actuating the latter for shifting the doctors relatively to the roll.

T 9. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head having a flat printing surfacefa trough for printing liquid, a roll mounted upon the trough and dipping into the liquid, mech anism arranged 'for'reciprocating the trough for passing the rollin "contact-with said-printing surface, doctors movably' moun'ted upon the'trough, shifting mechanism mounted upon the trough and arranged for alternately engaging the doctors with the roll, and engaging means arranged for'actu-' atin'g 'said shifting mechanism.-=

:10. printing machine having in: combination, a" reciprocating headzhaving aflat printing surfaceya trough-, aroll rotatably mounted upon the trough, mechanism arranged for reciprocating'th'e trough for passing the-roll in contact with said printingsurface, doctors "mounted upon the trough, shifting mechanism mounted upon the trough and arranged for-alternately engaging the doctors withthe roll, andmeans located upon the machine at opposite sides of said head andarranged fo'r actuating the shifting mechanism.

11. Aprintingmachine having in combination, a series of reciprocating-he adsya pad of resilient material upon one of"said heads and forming a printing surface, an engraved roll; 'means for passing the roll over thefprinting surface of the pad, a trough, means' mounting the roll upon the trough, doctors movably mounted upon the trough, and means upon said reciprocatingheads and arranged for moving the doctors into and out of contact with said roll. 7

12. A printing machine having in combination, a series of reciprocating heads having printing surfaces thereon, a. roll co-operating with the printing surface of one of said heads, a trough, means mounting the roll upon the trough, mechanism arranged for reciprocating the trough for passing the roll in contact with said printing surface, doctors movably mounted upon the trough, shifting mechanism mounted upon the trough and arranged for alternately engaging the doctors with the roll, and cams mounted upon the reciprocating heads located at opposite sides of the head with which said roll co-operates and arranged for actuating said shifting mechanism.

13. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head having a printing surface thereon, a trough for containing a printing liquid, a roll mounted upon the trough, doctors movably mounted upon the trough and located at opposite sides of the roll, a lever pivotally mounted upon the trough, and connecting rods pivotally connecting one arm of the lever with the doctors and arranged for alternately engaging the doctors with the roll.

14. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head having a printing surface thereon, a trough for containing a printing liquid, a roll mounted upon the trough, doctors pivotally mounted upon the trough and located at opposite sides of the roll, a lever pivotally mounted upon the. trough, connecting rods pivotally connected with the lever and the doctors and arranged for alternately engaging the doctors with the roll, a shift bar slidably mounted upon the trough, and a pivotal connection between said bar and said lever.

15. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head having a printing surface thereon, a trough for containing a printing liquid, a roll mounted upon the trough, doctors located at opposite sides of the roll, a shift bar slidably mounted upon the trough and operatively associated with the doctors for alternatively moving the doctors relatively to the roll, means for reciprocating the trough for passing the roll in contact with the printing surface of the head, and means located at opposite sides of said head and arranged for actuating said shift bar.

16. A printing machine having in combination, a reciprocating head having a printing surface thereon, a trough for containing a printing liquid, a roll mounted upon the trough, doctors mounted upon the trough and located at opposite sides of the roll, a shift bar slidably mounted upon the trough and operatively associated with the doctors, means for reciprocatingthe trough for passing the roll in contact with the printing surface of the head, adjusting devices uponthe shift bar, and means located at opposite sides of said head and arranged for engagement withsaid devices.

1'7. A printing machine having in Vcombination, a series of reciprocating heads having printing surfaces thereon, a roll co-operating with the printing surface of one of said heads, a trough, means mounting the roll upon. the trough, mechanism arranged for reciprocating the trough for passing the roll in contact with said printing surface of one of said heads, doctors pivotally mount,- ed upon the trough, a shift bar slidably mounted upon the trough and operatively associated with the doctors, and cams mounted upon said headsand arranged for actuating the shift bar.

18. The combination of a trough, a roll mounted upon the trough, doctors located upon opposite sides of the roll, a lever mounted upon the trough, connecting rods connected with the lever and with the doctors, bearings secured upon the trough, shafts secured in said bearings, and bifurcated lugs upon the doctors and embracing said shafts and arranged for removably mounting the doctors upon the trough.

19. The combination of a trough, a roll mounted'upon the. trough, "doctors movably mounted upon the trough, a bracket mounted upon the trough, a shift bar slidably mounted upon said bracket, and-means operatively associated with said bar and the doctors and arranged for shifting the doctors relatively to the roll.

20. The combination of a trough, a roll mounted upon the trough, doctors mounted upon the trough'and located at opposite sides of the roll, brackets mounted upon opposite ends of the trough, shift bars positioned at right angles to the length of the roll, bearings upon the brackets in which the shift bars are movably mounted, levers pivotally associated with the shift bars, and connecting rods connected with the levers and with-the doctors and arranged for moving the doctors relatively to the roll.

' THOMAS PESCI. 

